pleasure, while He passes by those who oppose Him, simply neglecting to give them any marks of His approbation.

The Qur'an rather takes up the position of St. Paul when he says, 'Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.' ¹

This goodness of God to mankind is represented as being general. It is seen in the works of creation and in those means which God employs for the provisioning and supplying the needs of man. 'And if thou ask them, who created the Heavens and the Earth, they will say: "The Mighty, the Sage, created them both," who hath made the Earth a couch for you, and hath traced out routes therein for your guidance; and who sendeth down out of Heaven the rain in due degree, by which we quicken a dead land; thus shall ye be brought forth from the grave: and who hath created the sexual couples, all of them, and hath made for you the ships and beasts whereon ye ride: that ye may sit balanced on their backs and remember the goodness of your Lord as ye sit so evenly thereon, and say: "Glory to Him who hath subjected these to us! We could not have attained to it of ourselves: And truly unto our Lord shall we return." ' ²

This goodness is common alike to the good and the evil and is irrespective of desert. But His goodness is not merely general. It works out, in the particular

events of His providence whereby He so orders and arranges things as to deliver those who are His from ills and enemies. 'Remember the kindness of God to you, when He rescued you from the family of Pharaoh who laid on you a cruel affliction, slaughtering your male children, and suffering only your females to live.' ¹

'O believers! remember the goodness of God towards you, when the armies came against you, and we sent against them a blast, and hosts that ye saw not; for the eye of God was upon your doings.' ²

The goodness of God is boundless in its extent and man cannot count up the number of His favours. 'It is God who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, and sendeth down water from the Heaven, and so bringeth forth the fruits for your food: . . . of everything which ye ask Him, giveth He to you; and if ye would reckon up the favours of God, ye cannot count them!' ³

A more special manifestation of the goodness of God is seen in His offer of mercy and guidance to fallen man. He did not leave mankind to perish without a revelation of the divine mercy, and the divine purpose of salvation. ⁴ He has, simply and wholly of His own goodness, sent to them from time to time apostles and prophets to admonish and warn. 'And remember when Moses said to his people, "O my people! call to mind the goodness of God towards you when He appointed Prophets among you, and appointed you kings, and gave